Quarry

Environmental advocates have appealed permits issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection that would allow North Mountain Shale LLC to operate a quarry in Gerrardstown, W.Va. Potomac Riverkeeper Inc. announced Friday that it challenged the DEP's January decision to issue quarry and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for a 100-acre site off W.Va. 51. Gerrardstown Presbyterian Church and Washington Heritage Trail Inc. also joined the not-for-profit, clean- water organization in appealing the quarry permit to the West Virginia Surface Mining Board, according to copies of the appeal released by Potomac Riverkeeper.

The Berkeley County Council voted 3-2 Thursday to take legal action, albeit in a limited manner, in the ongoing appeal of permits issued for a controversial proposed quarry operation in Gerrardstown, W.Va. Council members Doug Copenhaver and James “Jim” Whitacre voted against the action, which directs the council's attorney, Norwood Bentley III, to submit a “friend of the court” brief outlining the county's position on the development proposed by North Mountain Shale LLC. Council members Elaine Mauck, Anthony J. “Tony” Petrucci and William L. “Bill” Stubblefield appeared to agree that the county's brief should take a “middle of the road” position on the proposed quarry, but also outline their interest in protecting the county.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- Residents who did not have the opportunity to voice their opinion about a quarry project proposed in Gerrardstown earlier this month may attend a public forum on May 6 to share their views, state officials announced this week. The continuation of the Department of Environmental Protection's "informal conference" for North Mountain Shale's quarry permit was allowed because of confusion over the purpose of the sign-in sheet used at the DEP's April 14 meeting, the agency said in a news release.

A body found floating in a quarry about 200 feet north of Berkeley Station Road last week was determined to be a Florida man who worked in a carnival, West Virginia State Police said Wednesday. Jesse F. Byers, 40, and several other people went to the quarry on July 15 to party, according to a state police news release. Byers was found dead about a week later by a person swimming in the quarry, police said. A cause of death has not been determined, and the investigation is continuing, the release said.

The body of a man was found floating face down Thursday night in a quarry in the 200 block of Berkeley Station Road north of Martinsburg, West Virginia State Police said. Police were still trying to identify the man, who was initially reported to have drowned, Sgt. C.A. Mahood said Friday. The white male was found wearing a black shirt with an eagle print, blue jeans and what appeared to be brown leather boots, police said. He was about 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall, with a shaved head and a red goatee and mustache, police said.

Testimony heard Wednesday in the appeal of a state environmental agency's decision to permit a brick manufacturer's subsidiary to build a quarry in Gerrardstown, W.Va., focused on protection of nearby streams. The state Environmental Quality Board convened Wednesday to consider an appeal of the permit issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for North Mountain Shale LLC's proposed 100-acre quarry site off Dominion Road. The appeals were filed by Potomac Riverkeeper Inc. and Stevan Hudock, whose property is next to the proposed quarry.

A Clear Spring man who died Friday after the Bobcat loader he was operating fell into a water-filled hole at the Holcim cement plant off Security Road was identified Sunday as Herman L. “Hermie” Weaver Jr., according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Weaver, 69, who worked for Holcim for 48 years, was operating the loader in a shallow stream in the plant's quarry when the loader ran into the hole, according to a news release and Weaver's obituary. The loader became submerged and Weaver was trapped inside, police said.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The results of an autopsy confirmed that a Chambersburg man whose body was pulled from an abandoned Franklin County limestone quarry Tuesday afternoon died from accidental drowning, Pennsylvania State Police said Wednesday. Circumstances surrounding the death of Esvin Gramago, 19, were still vague, police said. "Nobody knows what happened," said Trooper Gary Carter, who investigated the incident. "He just went under. " Gramago was swimming with six friends in the quarry when he drowned.

Area residents can try their hand at panning for gold when geologist Jeri Jones leads a fossil-hunting field trip from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 4. The trip is sponsored by Renfrew Institute in partnership with the Franklin County Rock & Mineral Club. Pans and mineral collection containers will be supplied, and anyone who has a sluice box may bring it along. The trip also includes stops at the Vulcan Materials quarry in Buckeystown, Md., and the Specialty Granules quarry in Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. Those joining the trip should bring collecting gear such as buckets, hammers and newspaper, and wear clothing appropriate for digging fossils.

A circuit judge ruled Thursday that the state Surface Mine Board did not abuse its discretion and did not make an arbitrary decision when it affirmed the issue of a mining permit for a 100-acre quarry site in Gerrardstown, W.Va. Substantial evidence supports the Surface Mine Board's “rational” decision to affirm the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's issuance of the permit to North Mountain Shale LLC, 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge John C. Yoder concluded in a 11-page order.

Attorneys engaged in a legal battle over a proposed shale quarry in Gerrardstown, W.Va. were given until Dec. 1 to submit proposed orders to resolve an appeal pending in Berkeley County Circuit Court. Potomac Riverkeeper Inc., Washington Heritage Trail Inc. and Gerrardstown (W.Va.) Presbyterian Church filed in Berkeley County Circuit Court an appeal of a West Virginia Surface Mine Board decision that affirmed the state-issued permit for the operation. After hearing arguments Tuesday from an attorneys for the quarry opponents, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and North Mountain Shale LLC, 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge John C. Yoder gave no indication on how he would rule on the appeal.

Organizations opposed to a proposed shale quarry in southern Berkeley County have appealed a West Virginia Surface Mine Board decision affirming the state-issued permit for the operation. Potomac Riverkeeper Inc. announced Tuesday that it filed a petition in Berkeley County Circuit Court seeking judicial review of the Surface Mine Board's final order, which was issued Jan. 25. Joining Potomac Riverkeeper in the court appeal are Washington Heritage Trail Inc. and Gerrardstown (W.Va.)

An organization opposed to a proposed shale quarry in southern Berkeley County has criticized the West Virginia Surface Mine Board for affirming the state Department of Environmental Protection's decision to issue a mining permit for the operation. Potomac Riverkeeper Inc., one of three organizations that challenged the DEP's action to issue the mining permit to North Mountain Shale LLC, did not indicate Wednesday whether it would appeal the mine board's decision in circuit court.

A Clear Spring man who died Friday after the Bobcat loader he was operating fell into a water-filled hole at the Holcim cement plant off Security Road was identified Sunday as Herman L. “Hermie” Weaver Jr., according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Weaver, 69, who worked for Holcim for 48 years, was operating the loader in a shallow stream in the plant's quarry when the loader ran into the hole, according to a news release and Weaver's obituary. The loader became submerged and Weaver was trapped inside, police said.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners reached a consensus Tuesday to approve a zoning measure that would allow mining on 120.11 acres north of Hagerstown owned by cement company Holcim Inc. The land is north of Holcim's current limestone quarry near Old Forge Road. The company has said previously that the tract would be “reserves” to mine at a later date - likely at least 20 years away - and would replace about 90 acres of current reserves that the company has agreed to lease to the county at no cost for use as a park.

A man who owns a farm bordering a proposed quarry expansion was the only person to testify Tuesday evening against a zoning change on land north of Hagerstown owned by the cement company Holcim (US) Inc. “We're living close to that quarry now and for them to move any closer is just going to be worse for us,” said Herman Stockslager, whose Old Forge Road property borders the northern edge of the proposed expansion. His testimony was part of a public hearing before the Washington County Board of Commissioners, which will be tasked with deciding whether to approve what is designated as an Industrial Mineral floating zone on 120.11 acres north of Holcim's current limestone quarry.

A body found floating in a quarry about 200 feet north of Berkeley Station Road last week was determined to be a Florida man who worked in a carnival, West Virginia State Police said Wednesday. Jesse F. Byers, 40, and several other people went to the quarry on July 15 to party, according to a state police news release. Byers was found dead about a week later by a person swimming in the quarry, police said. A cause of death has not been determined, and the investigation is continuing, the release said.

The body of a man was found floating face down Thursday night in a quarry in the 200 block of Berkeley Station Road north of Martinsburg, West Virginia State Police said. Police were still trying to identify the man, who was initially reported to have drowned, Sgt. C.A. Mahood said Friday. The white male was found wearing a black shirt with an eagle print, blue jeans and what appeared to be brown leather boots, police said. He was about 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall, with a shaved head and a red goatee and mustache, police said.